Virginia Coop Partners with Utility and Broadband Company to Improve Internet Service to Rural Residents
Posted on Jul 27, 2020
Northern Neck Electric Cooperative is partnering with All Points Broadband and Dominion Energy to bring fiber-optic internet service to rural Virginia residents. As more and more human interactions are taking place virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, fast internet service is needed now more than ever. If the project is approved by the State Corporation Commission, construction is likely to begin in fall 2021 and be completed within a year.
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NRECA Urges Congress to Include RUS Debt Relief in Upcoming COVID-19 Stimulus Package
Posted on Jul 24, 2020
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), which represents more than 900 electric cooperatives in the US, is urging Congress to include a provision in the next COVID-19 stimulus package that would allow electric coops to reprice loans from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) at current low interest rates without penalties. Current RUS loan rules apply hefty prepayment penalties for refinancing debt. The change could save coops more than $10 billion.
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Kansas Cooperatives Helped by PPP
Posted on Jul 20, 2020
Six Kansas electric cooperatives recently applied for and received up to $20 million in loans as part of the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $2 trillion economic stimulus package passed by Congress in late March to help small businesses keep their workforces employed during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Oregon Trail Electric Coop Launches 360-Degree Virtual Tours
Posted on Jul 17, 2020
With a lack of tourism hurting local businesses, Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative has launched a series of 360-degree video and virtual reality experiences to attract post-pandemic business investment, new residents, and tourists to eastern Oregon. The immersive experiences, which have been shown to cause the same brain activity in the viewer as if he or she were really in a new place, are expected to get the attention of people who will want to vacation or work remotely from less populated areas of the country.
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Pennsylvania Coop Helps Build Drive-In Movie Theater
Posted on Jul 7, 2020
A Pennsylvania electric coop, Bedford Rural Electric Cooperative, has helped one of its communities build a drive-in movie theater in an effort to salvage a summer tourism season that has been disrupted by COVID-19.
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Arizona Coops Help Fund COVID-19 Tests
Posted on Jul 7, 2020
As Arizona deals with one of the nation’s largest spikes in COVID-19 cases, electric cooperatives, including Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, are working with public and private agencies to sponsor free coronavirus tests for people in their service areas.
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NHEC Votes to Help Members Access Internet
Posted on Jul 6, 2020
The board of directors of the New Hampshire Electric Cooperative (NHEC), which serves 84,000 homes and businesses, has voted to pursue providing high-speed internet access for members.
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Mississippi Legislature Passes Bill to Fund Rural Broadband Projects
Posted on Jul 6, 2020
Mississippi lawmakers recently passed a bill that would set aside $75 million for electric cooperatives and other service providers to service broadband internet to underserved areas, many of which are in rural areas of the state.
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New Legislation in Congress Could Save Coops Billions
Posted on Jul 6, 2020
Members of Congress introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday in both the House and Senate that could save electric cooperatives more than $10 billion by allowing them to reprice loans from the Rural Utilities Service at current low interest rates.
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Kentucky Coop to Provide Renewable Energy to Bulleit Bourbon Distillery
Posted on Jul 1, 2020
A new Kentucky distillery is under construction for Bulleit Bourbon, and the facility is expected to be completely carbon neutral. To help meet this goal, the company plans to incorporate a variety of features, including purchasing renewable energy from East Kentucky Power Cooperative.
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USDA Announces $1.6 Billion Investment Into Rural Electric Infrastructure
Posted on Jun 25, 2020
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that it is providing $1.6 billion in loans and loan guarantees to rural electric cooperatives and utilities in 21 states through the Electric Loan Program. The funds will be used to build and improve 9,138 miles of electric transmission and distribution line, and include approximately $386 million for investments in smart grid technology.
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Leaders of Electric Cooperatives Discuss Safety Measures Taken to Protect the Safety and Health of Their Employees During COVID-19
Posted on Jun 24, 2020
Senior electric coop leaders recently spoke with the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and T&D World about safety measures being implemented to protect the safety and health of their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although coops have moved swiftly to protect the safety and health of their employees and the public, some of the challenges moving forward include transitioning from in-person meetings to conference calls, keeping line crew members safe during storm recovery, and preventing disease transmission during mutual assistance events.
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New Hampshire Coop Members Reject Broadband Bylaws Change
Posted on Jun 19, 2020
In a 4,599 to 2,539 vote this week, New Hampshire Electric Cooperative, Inc. failed to meet the two-thirds majority required to amend its bylaws to include facilitation of broadband access in its mission statement. The board opposed the amendment but indicated they were interested in broadband generally.
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NRECA Releases Statement on Social Justice
Posted on Jun 18, 2020
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) released a statement on social justice in America expressing its commitment to promoting a positive and inclusive culture.
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